Fertilize Grass
For Increased
By: Max Maichele, Field
Agronomist, ORTHO Division
Chevron Chemical Company
Willis Rohrer, President, P.L.
Rohrer & Bro., Inc., Smoketown,
Pennsylvania
Grass pastures offer a
tremendous opportunity for
farmers to receive quick and
large returns on fertilizer in
vestment. These returns can be
obtained within a matter of
weeks instead of months as with
other crops that farmers
Treatments
Lbs,
20-10-10-/Ac,
(Date Applied)
1# None
2. 400 lbs, (3/28)
3. 400 lbs. (5/15)
4. 800 lbs. (3/28)
5. 400 lbs, (3/28)
400 lbs. (5/15)
Calculated at $40,00/ton; protein at 25^/lb.
Nobody knows a farmer’s money problems
better than a farmer.
That’s why we’re pleased that successful farmers such as
Amos H. Funk (at left) serve as Advisors to our Agriculture Department,
Mr. Funk works with our agricultural lending specialists, like
Bob Bucher (right), in solving farm money problems.
With experience like this, we can work out the best
loan plan for you—including flexible repayment, to meet your
needs instead of our calendar.
Commonwealth 4 k
National Bank
Commonwealth National Agri-Loan Corp.
Serving the Agricultural Community
of South Central Pennsylvania
regularly fertilize. Let’s consider
some work we completed this
season on orchardgrass in the
area.
We applied fertilizer on March
28 and May 15, in both single and
split applications. All yields were
calculated on a hay basis at 12
percent moisture. Crude protein
determinations were made at an
independent laboratory.
Average yield of forage and
protein are summarized in the
following table for 5 different
Total
Lbs,
Hay/
Acre
3945
5245
5145
6560
5755
Isn’t this the loan service you deserve?
Pastures
Profits
Inc, over check
Lbs,
Prot,
/Ac.
396
651
56?
937
748
fertilizer treatment
The best economic response
came from 800 lbs. of 20-10-10
applied March 28. The two 400 lb.
applications (treatment 5) was
much less profitable than a single
application of 800 lbs. applied
March 28. Delaying the single 400
lb. application to May 15 resulted
in slightly less total hay
production and considerably less
protein production than when
applied March 28.
We add one note of caution
Lbs,
Hay,
Acre
Lbs.
Prot,
/Ac.
1300 255
1200 171
2615 541
1810 352
concerning animals fed only
grass. Grass is naturally low in
magnesium and some strongly
acid soils might be low in
available magnesium. Farmers
will want to insure against grass
tetany or magnesium deficiency.
This insurance can be obtained
by supplying a mixture of equal
parts of dried molasses,
magnesium oxide, and trace
mineral salt, according to animal
nutrition studies.
The date we wrote up this
article the Wall Street Journal
quoted 44 percent soybean oil
meal, Decatur, Illinois for the
east $231.00 per hundred weight.
This is 28 5c per pound of protein.
Our information clearly shows
Value of increase
over check
Hay, Prot, Total,
SAo. $/Ac. $/Ac.
’.6.00 63.75 89.75
24.00 42.75 66.75
52,30 135.25 187,55
36.20 88,00 134.20
Amos H. Funk
Born and educated in
Millersville, Mr. Funk
majored in Economics at
Penn State. He is associated
with his son in growing
and retailing fruits and
vegetables from his
237-acre family farm.
He is an active
conservationist, and has
served on many state
committees concerned with
farming and conservation.
He was Pennsylvania
Master Farmer for 1966
and recently was named
State Conservationist of
the Year by the
Pennsylvania Association
of Soil and Water
District Directors.
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 24 1973
farmers can very profitably
apply high rates of fertilizer to
grass pastures. The results also
show highest profit comes from
early application. This means
there is no time to delay. Do it
now. With purchased protein
priced as it is farmers more than
ever before cannot afford to
pass up this chance to increase
their profits through pasture
fertilization.
Chapter Farmers
Installed By
Owen J. Roberts
The twelfth regular meeting of
the Owen J Roberts FFA
Chapter was called to order
March 14 by Howard Stoltzfus,
president. There were 38
members present
The secretary read the minutes
of the previous meeting. They
were approved as read. The
treasurer reported a balance on
hand; the report was accepted as
read and filed for audit.
The following members were
raised to the Chapter Farmer
Degree: Jeffrey Austin, Paul
Bean, John Bernat, Dave Ber
tolet, Nicholas Bilinski, Donald
Evans, Roy Fizz, Jay Moore,
John Swartzentruber, George
Tkaczk, Lisa Bremen, Glenn Hall
and David Ritschard.
Commitee reports were called
for. Dave Pepple, chairman of
the scholarship committee,
suggested the Chapter take out
an ad in the school paper to help
them meet publishing expenses.
Tom Mowrer, chairman of the
recreation committee, reported
that the FFA will hold a Fun
Night with the Twin Valley FFA
in April.
New business was called for.
Shane Clark moved to invest $lOO
in flowering apple, cherry, maple
and dogwood seedlings to plant in
the school nursery. Tom Mowrer
seconded, motion earned. Clark
moved to help Advisor Burtner
organize a Junior FFA, Mowrer
seconded, motion carried
Donald Shaner
Chapter Reporter
Protect Cows
When cold March winds blow
watch for open doors, broken
windows and large cracks in the
dairy barn, reminds Joe S.
Taylor, Extension dairy
specialist at The Pennsylvania
State University Drafts chill the
udders of high-producing cows
and mastitis can result
PORTABLE
Pressure Cleaner
High Pressure - 600 to
700 P.S I. Pressure
KLEANER
DEMONSTRATION
March 12,1973
At The
Paul Z. Nolt Sale
ZIMMERMAN'S ANIMAL
HEALTH SUPPLY
Wood Corner Rd.
Lititz, Pa.
7